National Theatre seeking a genius

THE search is on for a "genius" to become the first director of the National Theatre of Scotland.

Richard Findlay, who chairs the board of directors which met for the first time last week, said yesterday the new director would have to be an outstanding individual.

"We are looking for a genius," he said. "We need somebody who has wide experience of theatre production, development and nurturing new writing as well as good administrative and financial skills. We are casting the net wide."

Apart from shaping the artistic development of the National Theatre, the new director will also act as chief executive of the body, overseeing a budget of 7.5 million over the next two years.

The first advertisements for the post will appear in the national press next month, with the search extended internationally through theatre and creative networks. The National Theatre, which was founded by the Scottish Executive last year, will be a commissioning body which will produce work at different venues around the country.

The headquarters for the new body will be sited at the Arts Factory, the arts and leisure complex being built in Glasgow’s deprived Easterhouse.

Mr Findlay, who is the chief executive of Scottish Radio Holdings said the first meeting of the board of the National Theatre, which took place at Radio Forth in Edinburgh, had gone very well.

"I was really delighted. A lot of them had not met before and within seconds everybody came together as a really cohesive, positive and strong team.

"This is a great moment in the history of Scottish theatre and I am very excited to be working with such an enthusiastic group of people. We have hit the ground running and are developing our strategy very quickly."